This story is everywhere today, and I don’t see what the big deal is:
The Walking Dead writer/executive producer/director Frank Darabont has let go of the writers on the hot freshman AMC series, which has already renewed for a second season… Writer turnover on series between seasons is commonplace but wholesale overhauls are unusual. What’s more, I hear Darabont is looking to forgo having a writing staff for the second season of Walking Dead altogether and assign scripts to freelancers.
Darabont… ended up writing 2 of the first season’s 6 episodes of Walking Dead – the pilot and the second episode – and co-writing/rewriting the other 4. Two of those 4 were written by non-staff writers, one by executive producer Robert Kirkman, on whose comics the series is based, and one by Glen Mazzara. [Deadline]
It sucks to lose your job before the holidays, but I couldn’t be less sympathetic to the “Walking Dead” writers. The show is a success because it has great source material and brings hardcore violence and zombie gore to the small screen. The writing has been its biggest weakness: clunky dialog and huge plot holes have been weekly occurrences since the pilot, and I’m not even the kind of TV viewer who looks for mistakes.
Here’s an example: in the last episode, the caravan comes to a halt when the Winnebago breaks down. Two characters discuss the specifics of why it broke down — it actually ties back into a problem from a previous episode — and why it will be impossible to get it running again. Then, one scene later, they drive off in the Winnebago.
That’s not me nit-picking details; it’s an error that jars the viewer out of the story, and it’s been a common occurrence during this otherwise delightfully terrifying first season. I’m glad the writers got fired; it suggests that Season 2 will be even better than the first.
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agreed, ditch the writers and pick up the writers from Everybody Loves Raymond… wait no…
So maybe now when a racist meth head propels the plot forward by threatening the lives of the 8 people around him who aren’t zombies, it will feel more believable? Or maybe just not happen at all?
The whole RV hose situation was jarring. I think the story was that they saw a building up ahead (maybe a gas station), and 2 guys went ahead to check it out. I assumed it was a service station and they did get the requisite hose, but I don’t think they had the time to do that, and there certainly was no explanation or even images of them working on the RV.
Or even a quick scene of them actually going to the station.
yeah I think the black guy went to that gas station to take the hose he wasn’t there to say goodbye to Jim
A show about brain dead sacks of flesh endlessly walking around looking for fresh meat needs writers? There’s a Two and a Half Men joke here somewhere…
as a reader and fan of the books *puffs on pipe, stares at doctorate on wall*, I have been underwhelmed by the show. The show’s a hit for people who don’t read I guess. This show stopped being related to the books weeks ago. Here’s hoping they right the ship.
The scenes with the blond chicas were fuching brutal to watch. The fishing scene and then the don’t come near me I’m staring at my sister’s corpse. Gunshot to the head at the end was rewarding but I shouldn’t have to go through an oasis maze of bullshit to quench my thirst for blood.
I’m kind of a bleeding heart, and even I don’t mind this. Of they plan on deviating from the source material, they really do need stronger writers.
On a lighter note, A+ banner pic.
If if if. Damn typos.
They could hire the editorial team from Mad Libs and I’ll still watch.
Man, I love Katy Perry. And Walking Dead. Can’t forget that part.
Darabont did this after reading my comment yesterday regarding the absence of Cousin Merle (and maybe his old smell-hound, Geech).
I trust Frank Darabont’s judgement, the show has been good but definitely can be better. I find I could care less about the characters so far especially Mr. Jew nose.
So according to that quote, the staff writers actually only wrote 2 episodes, which were either co-written or re-written by Darabont. I wouldn’t even call that a staff.
Agreed. I’m glad Darabont is making strides to correct weaknesses in the show despite the fact that he could hide behind the Dead’s runaway success. In other words, I’m glad he’s not PULLING A GLEE.
they need stronger writers? be hard pressed to find someone better than chuck elgee…he was an EP on the shield and dexter. turnover is usual between seasons, but wholesale firings? seems like darabont wants to take his ball home so no one else can play
It’s a Christmas miracle! Enjoy the coal in your stockings, writers formerly of “The Walking Dead.” I say hire the writer of “Return of the Living Dead.” WEEEE WANNA PAAAARTY!
I was annoyed when that blond lady was burying her sister. She just kept yelling at people when they tried to help her put her dead sister in a grave.
“DONT HELP ME!! I CAN DO IT! WHY ARE YOU HELPING ME!! NOOOO!! PUT THAT FOOT DOWN RIGHT NOW! I CAN DO IT! I GOT THIS! PLEASE NOO!”
*spoilers* The whole CDC thing totally threw me off. That dude pops-up on his little video message and it suddenly felt like I was watching an episode of Lost or something. I was expecting the show to be different than the comic, but that was just weird. It kinda gets my hopes up for the season finale, too. Granted, I will watch the shit out of it, but I’m afraid it might be pretty slow unless it’s another 90 minute episode. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Just a thought, but the RV plot hole seemed to be a cut/copy/paste type of error. At some point, there had to be an explanation there. Probably got cut and forgotten during the rewriting mentioned. Writing has still been terrible
man, that RV thing screwed my whole night. my girlfriend was like “wanna blowjob?” and I was like “no, the fuckin RV never got fixed!, bitch!”
The RV thing was odd. I’m guessing it got edited out by mistake. The guy and his son that Rick first stayed with have been far too absent from the subsequent episodes. Also, the 4th episode totally set up Merle headed back to camp in the moving van. Then suddenly, no Merle! Then they left their campsite. And made it to the CDC? And the CDC only has one guy left?
I have a feeling that the writers had planned out a 8-12 episode 1st season run. Then the 6 episodes got ordered and they attempted to cram in too much info in too few episodes.
Also, for the die hard fans of the comics: I think you are all in for potential disappointment. The show isn’t going to shock as much as the comic. It just can’t do that and run on cable. It takes a lot more gore and violence to captivate a comic book audience than it does a tv audience.
i’m hoping that grenade the cop picked up at the start of EP 2 comes into play in the finale – otherwise that’s another wasted beat. rule 101 of drama/tension: if you show a weapon in act one, you gotta use it by the end of act 2
The next step in the plot is painfully obvious as well. The CDC guy makes a recording saying his tissue samples are destroyed and he can’t use the zombos outside because they’re useless necrotic flesh.
Then miraculously a new group of survivors arrives. The nutty CDC guy will try to infect one or more of the survivors to continue his research. So as always, the moral of the story will be that WE are each others’ worst enemy, not the walkers. *Twirls finger in the air*
And really, I think the survivor should see this coming. That CDC guy screwed Truman over, why wouldn’t he screw you too.
Nexus 6: “The show’s a hit for people who don’t read I guess.”
Or possibly for people who haven’t read the comics?
Good deal. I hope they can right the ship. While not asking to follow the comic book line faithfully, the CDC angle changes the whole Shane/Rick dynamic That the story line should focus on. Dale needs to stop being such a charactor and step up to the role he was originally written as. The Jim story was an absolute failure, should have shown the depth of his plight as witnessing his family being attacked. The comic’s strenght was never the gore fest, it was the story of survival that the group goes through. Now its going to be ludicrous science conspiracy theories of a zombie virus. Never discussed in comic, not needed to tell this story.
yourviolence: That part about the blowjob was the funniest damn thing I’ve seen all week.
I’m trying hard to like the show. I want to. But I have questions like, why did they stay so close to the city? Why didn’t they find a defensible position. They were just in the middle of the woods. A big group of zombies comes through cap at one time. That seemed strange to me. I though that maybe the guy they left on the roof, stole their truck while they were in town, tricked some zombies into the truck then drove it to their campsite as revenge for leaving him there.And in general, it moves too slow.
im sorry. maybe im old fashioned, but i really just tune in for awesome zombie killing. The storyline really just needs to be interesting enough to keep me from getting up between said zombie killing. Full disclosure, I never read the comic (but i read the wikipedia page, totally counts), but aren’t you guys who are crying out for complete adherence to the original dying to know what happens with wildfire?
dude. what if they go back to retrieve jim to use as fresh tissue samples?
/oh yeah, spoiler alert
I’m no mechanic….but one of the rv’s coolant hoses busted, which means they’re losing coolant/water that keeps the engine cool when running.I think they had to stop because the engine was overheating.If you let it cool down you can drive again, a short distance, before it happens all over again.I only know this because it happened to my Golf.It was a long frikkin’ drive home.
“but I couldn’t be less sympathetic to the “Walking Dead” writers.”
Agreed, you really have to take a look at the work you’re putting out when you cant even script something that could have just been a fleshed out version of the graphic novel.
The dozey actions of the characters always left me groaning, (zombie like in many parts) so hopefully this will smarten things up a bit.
I didn’t even notice those mistakes and I’m a small time producer. I think the writers were doing a fine job. Stop watching TV like an industry PUKE [I know it's hard to do] and start watching it for entertainment, then you’ll see more clearly.
The bigger plot hole to me is the inconsistency of how easy it has been to get around within the city. At times they can’t go 10 feet without a horde of zombies coming at them, then they’re able to just walk around at times without being noticed.
I do agree with jason C. I watch it for the entertainment. But the script does flail alot. People that play a pivitol role in the story just seem to drop off. I can understand leaving them out for an episode to create suspense,and anticipation, but to not bring them back at all takes away from what could have been a capturing story. Like Merle for example. That would have made for some good story line had he turned up all pissed off with no right hand. Would have liked to see Jim talk his way out of that one. Now they are 100 miles away at the CDC. I think it would be a hard stretch to have him show up now. Same with the guy and his boy from the beginning. (Hope he shot his wife). Who knows? I dont think police radios carry that far to have him turn up now, but maybe they will at the next gas station looking for radiator hose for an RV with a chronic problem. (Is that the best RV they could come up with? I’m sure there are alot better/reliable ones for the taking. Hell, they drove away in a new Challenger worth 38K.===then left it in the woods.Why did they take the tires off and where are they if it so important to do so.) Just some of the stupid scripting that will eventually get me to lose interest in the show altogether.
I find it hilarious the comments on all the big sites/blogs when it pertains to this series. The Walking Dead along with Fringe are the two very best series on television right now but instead we’ve got nothing but constant whining about TWD. Oh, the story is weak, the characters are dull, Darabont is an idiot, etc… You people are morons. The Walking Dead is everything you people think its not. GO FUCK YOURSELVES!
any true zombie fan will tell you that the most important part of any zombie movie is always the zombies. the gore and zombie make up are what we zombie fans watch it for. sure the better the acting and script is the better the movie will be, but ultimatly its about the zombies. i love the walking dead show and i think the most important thing amc needed to get right was the gore..and i feel they got that part right. plus..come on people are a few mistakes that big a deal? if you like the show then give it a chance to get better.
I have really enjoyed watching this series so far, but have had issues with the writingtoo.Not so much with the holes they leave in just about every episode but more on how the characters are portrayed.I can always tell how liberal the writers are, because they but their own social views of the world into the script.For instance the only characters you hate so far are all white racist rednecks.Have any these writers every been to an inner city ghetto, Detroit,East L.A. or St. Louis which just won the most dangerous city in america!There aren’t any gang banging blacks running around terrorizing people, or would they turn a new leaf with a total break down of law and order. Then there was the Vatos episode where the Hispanic gang bangers were actually kind hearted good samaritans taking care of the elderly.I guess those writers have never spent time researching MS13 or Mexican Mafia.If this series is supposed to show what might happen in an apocalypse, then they should portray the good bad and ugly in every race!
I hate when people complain that something isn’t exactly like a book. It’s BASED on the book!!! And no people who watch TV shows, work, and live interesting lives don’t have time to read every book ever written. We leave that to losers and shut ins.
In the Vatos episode, the were not mexican gangbangers, they were nurses, janitors, relatives etc who had come to protect the old people when the staff had run off. They just adapted the stance of gangbangers to get the supplies that was needed.
my take on the last episode was, uh oh now they are all locked in an enclosed environment, after that blonde lady just took a bath in her sister’s blood. Now that biotch is going to change and there is going to be hell to pay
The ONLY thing that irks me is how nonchalant the survivors are. The just kinda slug around doing things, usually unarmed. If there was a zombie apocalypse a bat, hammer, and gun would be glued to my hand. And they are so worried about social problems instead of basic survival. But the acting isn’t terrible and the plot is good enough to make over 8 million people watch it every week. As for the “RV DISASTER”….with old vehicles you just need the engine to cool for about an hour and it will run just fine for a short while. For the sake of the time, they cut an hour into about 5 minutes. The guys protecting the retirement center never said they were gang bangers, they were family visiting the shelter who decided to stay. People need to pay attention to context, not just guns and appearance! Frank Darabont is a legend that shouldn’t be questioned.
I agree, they should fired. The episode where dude on the roof cuts his hand off instead of cutting the oldass, rusty support for the pipe is bad writing. The need a common sense writer. Like me. Someone to breakdown what they have written to see if even make sense. It frustrates me to see shows and movies continuously writing stupid thing.
My brothers and I have been disappointed in this series. we had high hopes since day 1 but the story moves slower than a soap opera. I some of the episodes there is really only 3 minutes of good zombie action. i mean really, if i wanted to watch a slow dragging story of people talking about b.s. that doesn’t relate to survival and zombies, i have many choices on free tv. its just too slow.
I noticed the RV hose thing too. I also wondered about the scarcity of guns. I mean they are supposed to be in the South there are guns every place Gun stores, sporting goods, pawnshops, not to mention distributers.
OMG!!! the show is supposed to be about people surviving in a world full of people eating zombies. who cares about knitpicking details about a stupid rv hose? its a fictional tv show calm down and enjoy it. the show wont be half as good to you if all your going to do is look for things that are wrong with it.
The writing staff needs to be rehired! The plot had a few inconsistencies because it’s jumping forward and backward in order to keep the suspense going. The scenes are long because it’s a TV show that is being made to look like a movie! This can’t be easy for the writers because in a movie the action is quick to jump into every scene, while here they are trying to mix intense feelings with blood and gore! The easy going attitude of the survivors does annoy me, but they can’t always be in shock or the storyline wouldn’t move. Besides, everyone handles shock in a different kind of way. The RV scene didn’t bother me cause I saw it as a way for them to ditch Jim (tall sick guy?)before he turned into a zombie while they were driving. Merle definitely needs to come back…I was actually hoping he would come in as the hero of the season finale! Using Freelancers for future scripts is a huge mistake! Just picture True Blood, awesome first 2 seasons! Their season finale, FAIRIES!!!! (((dies!!!!))) Come on…that so reeks of Fan Fiction!!!! (which will happen to The Walking Dead if you use Freelancers…(in case you didn’t get the sarcasm!) Oh…2 white chicks fishing and talking about things the viewer knew nothing about for about 10 minutes at the start of the episode before last…totally a sleeper!
See? Just like I predicted. haha, yeah I was way off. I’m pleasantly surprised that they incinerated the CDC. Oh, by the way, belated spoiler alert. Of course if you’re still reading this far down you deserved that.
And Paulita, the fairies might reek of fan fiction but they’re actually an integral part of the TrueBlood universe if you read the books. So not really a good example of bringing in freelance writers since that’s the direction Alan Ball was taking the show from the beginning.
As a zombie myself, my fellow undead creatures need more dialogue dammit!
@Bob Smith
Here here! It’s about time someone stood up for the way white people are portayed in movies and television!
if there were really walking dead we would not be fighting each other. this is not a mel gibson program no one is trying to steal our water. they are going for our blood. i guess
no writer has seen all the dead movies. you guys should have the stars trying to find more
people to fight with u. there are 50 states and im sure there are some marines around one of them. and what about trying to get a boat and going to another country. u write in a box,
get out and find a solution to this.mad world. u fight each other later right now u should be
trying to save humanity.